Live Review: AJJ, The Dead Maggies, This Is A Robbery, Wilson & The Castaways, Hanny J, Quinton Trembath

If you walk into The Brisbane Hotel as soon as doors open, it's usual to expect an average sized crowd. Typical Hobart, punters don't arrive until the very last minute. Last night's AJJ gig was far from average. From the very first minute, the place was buzzing from every corner with eager patrons.

Melbourne-based musician Quinton Trembath kicked things off with his incredible storytelling tales. The floor was jam-packed with enthused fans singing along to every word. It was evident Trembath loves doing what he does, and it reflected right back from the crowd. Nobody wanted to be anywhere else but in front of that stage; a pattern that continued throughout the night with acts Hanny J, Wilson & The Castaways, This Is A Robbery and The Dead Maggies performing their folk magic before Phoenix, Arizona's AJJ take the stage.

It's hard to put into words the experience that is AJJ live, and more so, the wild and wacky reaction Hobart gave. They started off with Brave As A Noun and the crowded room went nuts, not only singing every line but offering them favours - one guy kindly handed them some salt and vinegar chips, while others were putting every ounce of themselves into the rhythm. AJJ performed the perfect mix of new and old as the crowd remained consistently excited for whatever came next. You could see that lead singer Sean Bonnette was stoked — not only by his mid-song handstand, but by their promise to be back in Hobart again soon.

There were no barriers for this gig, literally and metaphorically. The excited crowd went insane and Bonnette was extremely aware of it, sweetly urging everyone more than once to stand back so the front row could hold their ground. As they played their final song Big Bird, things got even looser. A double bass - left behind from The Dead Maggies - made its way down from the stage and was seen crowd surfing. Only Tassie could get away with carrying a huge, and perhaps extremely dangerous, musical instrument over the crowd and leave no one harmed or phased. The audience joined Bonnette in absolute harmony, singing in perfect sync as a very sweaty band belted out their last few chords. When the set finished, groups fled straight to the stage, busting to get a photo with the band that evidently just made their night.